Apparatus for forming trusses or trussed beams.



N. H. DAVIS.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRUSSES 0R TRUSSBD BEAMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1906.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

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'N. H. DAVIS.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRUSSES 0R TRUSSED BEAMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1906.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

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ATTORNEY.

N. H. DAVIS. APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRyUSSES 0R TRUSSED BEAMS.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 6, 1900.

1,012,384. 3 Patented Dec. 19,1911.

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APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRUSSES 0R TRUSSBD BEAMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1906.

1,012,334. Patented Dec. 19,1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN I-I. DAVIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRUSSES OR TRUSSED BEAMS.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, NATHAN H. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improve ment in Apparatus for Forming Trusses or Trussed Beams, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of trusses or truss members such as the brake beams used on railway cars and the like, out of rolled or otherwise formed bars of iron or steel.

My present invention may be regarded as an improvement on the apparatus forming the subject matter of my prior Patent 574,886, granted January 12, 1897, and has for its object to provide apparatus whereby the trusses may be formed with increased rapidity while at the same time the cost of their production may be reduced and the trusses produced may be improved and rendered more uniform.

In forming trusses according to the plan in which I utilize the apparatus claimed herein I start with a blank, such for instance as that shown in my Patent No. 683,729, granted October 1., 1901, heat it to a temperature at which it can be readily shaped by pressure and then separate the tension and compression members by forming a slit in the blank extending parallel to the length of the blank between points adjacent its ends, the ends of the blank remaining unslitted. After the slitting has been carried out and preferably before the blank has cooled below a working temperature I subject the blank to the action of the apparatus claimed herein. This apparatus comprises means for upsetting the compression member of the blank by applying pressure to the ends of the blank while holding the compression member in such a manner as to permit it to be upset while at the same time preventing it from buckling. As the compression member is upset and shortened, the increasing relative length of the tension member causes it to bow out or buckle and I provide means to control the shape assumed by the tension member by pulling it out preferably without stretching it to give it approximately the form of a pair of adj a- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 6, 1906.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Serial No. 329,492.

cent side edges of a diamond. I also provide means for bending the compression member midway between its ends to give it also the form of two adjacent side edges of a diamond. This last mentioned operation I prefer to carry out at the end of the upsetting operation. The beam or truss is by this time practically completed although I prefer to shape it further while still hot enough to work to obtain smooth parts and perfect alinement and to form rounded fillets at the points of separation of the tension and compression members.

The mechanism for preliminarily slitting the blank and for finally alining, smoothing and rounding the blank form no part of the invention claimed herein. These operations may be advantageously carried out by means of the apparatus disclosed in my Patents Nos. 923,954 and 930,460, respectively, granted on applications filed concurrently with this application.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, and the advantages possessed by it, reference may be had to the accol'npanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described somewhat in detail mechanism for upsetting the compression member and bowing out the tension and compression members of the beam.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in the initial or work receiving position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the apparatus in the position assumed by it at or about the instant of completing the upsetting operation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a plan in section on the line 4.4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the apparatus with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an elevation with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 7, taken partly in section on the line (S-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing parts of the lower work receiving dies and their operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a section of the valve which automatically controls the operation of the upsetting rams, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10

B and half in the die part B is a sectional elevation on theline 1010 of Fig. 11 of the automatic lock or check valve for preventing undue yieldingof the upper work holder. Fig. 11 is a section on the line 1111 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a. section of the primarily actuating valve of the apparatus, taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a section on the line 18-13 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14: is a plan of the blank worked upon, the full lines showing the condition of the blank at the conclusion of the operation performed by the apparatus disclosed, and the dotted lines showing its original condition. Fig. 15 is an elevation of the end of the blank. Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic representation of the fluid pressure connections and valves.

In the drawings A represents the main frame work of the apparatus, which may be formed of a single integral casting. The framework has a horizontal portion A on which is supported a table or platform member A on which is placed the lower die or work holder. As shown, the lower die or work holder is divided into two parts B and B The adjacent ends of the die parts B and B have formed in their under surfaces a recess to receive a projection B the front end of which is rounded. The projection B is provided on its upper surface with a circular rib B which is received in a circular recess formed half in the die part The outer end of each of the die parts B, B is secured to the table member A by a pivot B. The die parts B, B are normally held against projections A of the table A by a member B which may be integral with the projection B hen so held, the parts B, B are in alinement and the rib receiving slots B formed in them are also in alinement.

From the lower portion of the framework A extends a U shaped portion A the upper end of which carries a jack or press C. The jack or press C comprises a large area ram chamber C and a small area ram chamber 0 In the form of my invention shown the ram chambers G and C are arranged one within the other but open in opposite directions. A port C leads to the cylinder C and a port or passage 0 leads to the chamber C The piston or ram C entering the chamber C has a recess C formed in its upper end to receive the cylindrical wall surrounding the chamber C Packing C is provided to prevent leakage between the outer surface of the piston C and the cooperating chamber wall. Leakage is per mitted, however, between the cylindrical wall surrounding the chamber C and the piston C The piston or ram C which enters the upper end of the chamber C sup ports at its upper end a crosshead C connected by rods C to a crosshead G conthe crosshead C is secured a laterally eX- tending crosshead member C which has an upper work holder D detachably secured against its under surface by bolts D The work holder D has formed in its upper surface a recess D which is in the same plane with the slots B of the work holder parts B, B when the latter are in the position shown in Fig. 4. The upper work holder is prevented from angular displacement by the engagement of the crosshead C with the ribs A of the extension A Frame A supports at the ends of the work holders upsetting jacks or presses E which are similar to each other and are substantially identical in construction with the jack C each comprising parts E to E inclusive which correspond respectively to the parts C to C inclusive of the jack C. The movable parts of each press E are prevented from angular displacement by the rib E carried by the crosshead E which enters a groove formed to receive it in an extension E of the framework A and by the engage-1 ment of the crosshead E with the surface A of the framework. Each crosshead E has a recess in which is secured a work engaging anvil or block E by a cap E and bolts E The extension A also supports a ram cylinder F in which is mounted a piston F connected to a stem F which passes out of the back end of the cylinder through a bushing F The outer end of the piston stem F supports a crosshead F which is connected to the member B by rods F port F leads to the front end of the piston chamber and a port F leads to the back end of the piston chamber.

A ram cylinder G is secured to the front side of the frame work A and has a piston chamber G in which is located a piston G the stem G of which passes out of the front end of the cylinder through a bushing G The outer endof the stem G is secured to a projection H from the under side of a member H, the inner end of which abuts against the front sides of the workholder parts B, B when the latter are in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6. This end of the member H is provided with a hook like projection H for engaging and pulling out the tension member of the blank in a manner hereinafter described. A guide member J is also secured to the front end of the stem G and thereby to the member H. The member J is formed with a slot J in which is received a projection G on the under side of the cylinder G. This arrangement limits the outward movement of the member H. A port or passage G leads to the inner end of the chamber G to admit fluid pressure against the high area end of the piston G Similarly, the port G leads to the outer end of the chamber G to admit fluid under pressure against the lower area end of the piston G The operation of the mechanism so far described is as follows: The parts are normally held in the position shown in Figs. 4- and 6 by tluid pressure acting on the low area ends of the pistons F} and G and on the small area pistons C and E The blank to be operated upon is inserted in the apparatus while at a forging heat. One flange or rib K being received in the slots B and the under surface of the rib K resting on the upper edge of the die parts 13, B The front rib K which has previously been slit from the beam between the points K and which is to form the tension member of the truss, is hooked over the projection H of the member H as the work is inserted in the lower work holders. Preferably, to facilitate this hooking, a bend K is formed in the rib K at the time at which the slitting operation is completed. After the blank is thus inserted in the lower work holders, fluid under pressure is admitted to the chamber C against the high area piston C, which overcoming the action of the piston C moves the crosshead C down until the upper rib K enters the slot D of the work holder D and the upper surface of the rib K engages the itnder surface of the work holder or die D, and the blank is gripped between D and B and B with the desired pressure.

l/Vhcn the pressure in the chamber C has increased to the desired amount by reason of the engagement of the die D with the blank I provide means for automatically admitting fluid under pressure into the high area piston chambers E whereupon the pistons E are moved toward one another against the ends of the blank K with a pres sure great enough to produce the desired amount of upsetting of the compression member of the bar formed by the portions of the ribs K, K and K" between the points K. By reason of the fact that all this portion of the bar is heated to approximately the same temperature and to the manner of applying the pressure and su iportiug the work, the upsetting may be made practically uniform throughout the length of the compression member. The portions of the blank without the points K are but slightly upset in this operation, owing to the fact that there is more metal in them and also to the fact that these portions of the blank are cooler than the intermediate portion. The anvil members E are similar in cross section to the ends of the blank and their inner ends lie at all times between the upper and. lower dies and when the latter are together the members E fill the spaces in and between the dies at the ends of the blank. As a result the ends of the blank are supported and guided during the upsetting operation.

The amount of upsetting produced may be regulated by adjusting the upsetting piston stops formed by the pair of wedges A located at each end of the table.

At the same time at which fluid under pressure is admitted to the chamber ll' tluid under pressure is admitted to the inner ends of the chamber G through the port G against the high area end of the piston G As a result, the difference in the lengths of the tension and con'ipression members due to the upsetting of the latter is taken care of by the hook ll which pulls the tension member into the form shown in full lines in Fig. l t as the upsetting operation is carried out. At the conclusion of the upsetting operation, the chambers C and E are disconnected from the source of fluid pressure and are connected to waste, whereupon the crosshcads C and 1C are returned to their original position by the tluid pressure maintained at all times on the piston C and E After the work holder 1) has cleared the work, fluid under pressure is admitted through the port l to bear against the large area end of the piston F which accordingly moves outward. carrying with it the crosshead F, rods F, and crosshead or member B, which by means of its connection with the parts 1 and ll, turn the latter about their pivotal supports B, thus giving the compression member of the beam the bowed position shown in full lines in Fig. 14-. This completes the operation upon the blank which may then be removed to allow the insertion of a subsequent blank, upon which the operations ust described are repeated.

While in some cases it might be desirable to divide the upper work holder D in the same manner in which the lower one is divided to permit the compression member to be bent while engaged by the upper work holder T have found in practice that this reflIlQITlOIli'. is ordinarily unnecessary.

The piping and valves by means of which the flow of the ram actuating fluid is gov erned may best be understood by reference to Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive and l ig. 16. Referring first to Fig. 16, 1 represents the main pressure pi pe connected to any suitable source of liquid such as water, under pressure. The pipe 1 leads to a connection 2 from which in turn pipes 3 lead to the ports E. A pipe 41; also leads from the connecting tube to the port I} of the valve l shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The valve L comprises a casing If having in it val ve ports L and L. The valve ports L and l. are opened and closed by similar and similarly placed valves L and L respectiwly, carried in turn by valve stems L and L respectively. Between the valve ports I) and L" is a valve passage L" from which lead ports L and L. A passage L connects the ports L and L. A similar passage L connects the &

port L with a waste pipe connection 11. A I valve operating lever L pivoted at- L carries a projection L which engages one end of the valve stem L to lift the valve L off its seat and a similar projection L 'which engages the corresponding end of the valve stem L lVhen the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 13, both valves are against their seats, in which positions they are normally held by the fluid pressure in the pas sages L and L. It will be understood that the lever L forms a means for opening either valve at will but not both valves simultaneously.

The pipe 5 leads from the valve port L to the valve port M of a lock valve M. The valve M, see Figs. 10 and 11, comprises a piston chamber M in which is located a piston M A passage 1V 4 establishes communication between the port M and the front or large area end of the piston M A port M admits fluid under pressure at all times to act on the small area end of the piston M which is normally held thereby in a position to the left of that shown in Fig.

11. A spring M tends to move the valve member M into the position shown in Fig. 11, in which it closes the port M leading from the port M to a valve passage M The fluted stem M of the valve M terminates in a cylindrical portion which surrounds a reduced portion of the piston M When the piston M is to the left of the position shown in Fig. 11 it holds the valve M off its seat. It should be explained that the water or other fluid under pressure may readily leak from the passage M into the chamber M in which the rear end of the valve member 7 extends. The purpose of such leakage is of course to equalize the fluid pressure on the valve member M When fluid under pressure is admitted into the passage M the piston M is moved into the position shown in Fig. 11, at the same time the pressure of the fluid causes the valve M to open the port l\ The valve M operates as a quick acting check valve to close the port M and prevent the flow of fluid from M to M except when the pressure in the pipe M is reduced to the point at which the valve M holds the valve M away from its seat, thus preventing any .yielding of the work holder.

A pipe 6 connects the passage M to the port C A pipe 7 leads from the port L communicating with the passage L to a coupling 8; From the coupling 8 a pipe 10 leads to the port M of the valve M, and another pipe 9 leads to the port C". A pipe 12 leads from the pipe 4 to the port corresponding to the port L of the valve L of a valve N which may be similar in all respects to the valve L except that no ports are provided in it corresponding 'to the ports L and L of the valve L. A pipe 13 leads from the port of the valve N corresponding to the port L to the port F. A pipe 14: connects the port F with a coupling 15 connected to one of the pipes 3. A pipe 17 connects the port L of the valve L with the port or passage 0 of the valve 0.

The valve 0 comprises a piston chamber 0 having in. it a piston formed of packing members 0 mounted on a stem 0". A port 0 leads to the low area end of the piston 0 A port 0 leads tothe large area end of the piston 0 The inner end of the stem 0 has formed in it an axial passage 0 which is in communication with the passage 0 through lateral passages 0 The inner end of the passage 0 is controlled by a valve member sliding in and projecting from a chamber 0 and normally held in position to close the passage 0 by a spring 0 The piston O is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 9 by the pressure acting on the small area end of said piston 0 V hen the pressure of the fluid in the passage 0 becomes high enough it acts on the end of the stem 0 to move the piston O to the right. After a small initial movement of the piston 0 accompanying movement of the valve member O is stopped by the engagement of the shoulder O with the flange 0, after which subsequent movement of the piston 0 causes a. separation of the stem 0* and valve whereupon communication is established between the port 0 and the port 0 Leakage is permitted from the passage 0 into the chamber O.

A pipe 18 leads from the valve port 0 to a coupling 19 from which pipes 20 lead to the ports E A pipe 21 leads from the coupling 15 to the port G of the press G. Pipe 22 leads from the port G to a coupling 23 connected to the'pipe 20. A pipe 24 connects the port 0 of the valve 0 with a coupling 25 connected to one of the pipes 3.

The operation of the valves and piping, which may be readily followed out from the drawings, may be briefly summarized as follows: In the normal working condition, the pressure is at all times maintained in the pipes 1, 3, a, 7,8, 9, 10, 12,14, 21 and 24L. This holds the rams or pistons in the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and holds the pistons M and O of the valves M and 0 respectively to the inner limits of their movements. WVhen the valve lever L is moved to lift the valve L off its seat, fluid under pressure is admitted to the pipes 5 and 17. From pipe 5 pressure is admitted to the chamber C through the valve M and pipe 6. When the pressure in the chamber C has arisen to a point approximating but not quite equaling the maximum pressure in the pipe, say twelve hundred pounds, in

the chamber C", if the maximum pressure in the pipe is eighteen hundred pounds, the pressure in the passage 0 which is, of course, equal or approximately so, to the pressure in the chamber G, moves the pisten 0 to the right of the position shown in Fig. 9 thus admitting fluid under pressure through the pipes 18 and 20, to the chambers E of the presses E, thus starting the upsetting operation. The check valve M prevents any premature upward movement of the crosshead G such as might otherwise be caused by the buckling of the blank during the upsetting operation. As the pressure rises in the pipe 20 the bowing of the tension member is controlled by means of the fluid passing into the chamber of the ram Gr through the pipe 92. At the conclusion of the upsetting operation the valve lever L is operated to move the valve L off its seat, thus connecting the pipes 5 and 17 with the waste pipe 11. As the fluid starts to flow into the waste pipe the valve L is automatically closed by the pressure in the passage L and the rams returned to their original position. The valve 0 does not oppose the backward flow of the fluid through it and as the pressure in the port M is reduced to practically .nothing, the piston M quickly moves into the position in which it holds the valve M off its seat, so that backward flow is permitted through the pipes 6 and 5. As soon as the work holder I) clears the work, the valve lever N may be operated to admit fluid through the valve from the pipe 12 into the pipe 13 to operate the ram I When the bending operation performed by the ram F is completed the valve lever N is operated to disconnect the pipe 18 from the pipe 12 and connect it to the waste pipe 11.

While the mechanism hereinbet'ore described and illustrated has been found in actual practice to be highly efficient and reliable, it will be understood by all those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of my invention without departing from its spirit and I do not wish the claims hereinafter made to be limited to the particular embodiment of my invention disclosed more than is made necessary by the state of the art.

Having now described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. In a machine for forming truss members out of longitudinally slit beams, the combination of means for longitudinally compressing and upsetting the portion of the beam at one end of the slit, including members engaging the beam at its ends and relatively movable toward and away from each other, means actin on the portion of the beam at the other side of the slit in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement of said members for drawing away said second mentioned beam portion while the first mentioned beam portion is being upset, and other means also acting transversely to said direction of relative movement for bending the first men tioned beam portion at the end of the upsetting operation.

2. In combination, a pair of work holder parts, means for upsetting a blank held in said work holder parts, means for holding said work holder parts in alinemcnt during said upsetting operation and means for subsequently moving said work holder parts out of alinemcnt to bend the blank held by them.

3. In combination, a table, a pair of work holder parts, each pivoted to said table, each of said work holder parts having a work receiving slot formed in it, means for en gaging the work holder parts so that said slots are in alinemcnt and means for oscillating said parts about their pivotal supports to bend the work contained therein.

4. In an upsetting a 'iparatus, a pair of work holding members, means for compressing a blank between said work holding members including a hydraulic press, a hydraulic press for upsetting the work held by said work holder members and means for actuating said presses including a source of fluid under pressure and a. valve normally preventing connection between said source and said upsetting presses and means actuated by a rise in pressure to a predetermined value in the work holder press for operating said valve to connect said source to said upsetting press.

5. In an upsetting apparatus, a work holder press, and upsetting press, a source of fluid under pressure, a connection between said source and each of said presses, a valve governed by the pressure in the work holder press for preventing communication betwecn the upsetting press and the source until after the pressure in the work holder press has reached a n-edetermined value, and a check valve for preventing backward flow of fluid from the work holder press while the press is connected to the source of pressure.

6. In a machine for forming trusses out of a flanged bar slit longitudinally between its ends, the combination of blank holding dies formed with straight grooves to receive the ribs of the portion of the bar at one side of the slit, and means for upsetting the portion of the bar engaged by said work holders comprising a pair of upsetting devices, one engaging each end of said bar, and means for operating each of said devices so that the end of the bar engaged by it is moved toward the other end of the bar.

7. In combination, a table, a pair of dies, each pivoted to said table and each pivoted to an operating device each of said dies having a slot formed in it, means normally ho1d ing said member in a position in which the slots in the two dies are in alinement and means for moving said operating member to turn said dies about their points of pivotal connection to the table to move said slots out of alinement.

8. In a machine for forming a truss from a bar slit longitudinally between its ends, the combination of a table, a pair of work holding dies pivotally connected to said table, a fluid actuated piston connected to said dies and normally holding them in one position, means for moving said piston to move said dies into another position, a pair of fluid actuated upsetting pistons arranged one at each end of the dies and a fluid actuated piston for separating the portion of a blank not upset, as the upsetting operation is carried on.

9. In an apparatus for forming a truss from a bar slit longitudinally between its ends, a Work holder press and an upsetting press, piping connecting the piston chambers of said presses including a valve normally closed but automatically opened when the pressure in the upsetting piston chamber reaches a predetermined value, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said work holder press'piston chamber.

10. In a machine for converting a slitted bar into a diamond shaped truss, the combination of a pair of work holding die parts, and means for operating on a blank held in said die parts, comprising a pair of upsetting presses, each having a piston movable toward and away from the piston of the other for upsetting the compression member of the truss, a press for bending the compression member of the truss, and a press for shaping the tension member of the truss. I

11. In an apparatus for forming a truss out of a slitted bar, a work holding press, a pair of presses for upsetting one part of the bar, a fourth press for controlling the consequent buckling of the other part of the bar, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said presses, said means includ- 5O ing a normally closed valve controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to the upsetting presses and said fourth press, and means actuated by the pressure in the work holder press for automatically opening said 5' valve when the pressure in the work holder press rises to a predetermined value.

12. In a machine for operating on a flanged bar slit longitudinally between its ends, means for upsetting the portion of the bar at one side of the slit, comprising Work holders having spaces receiving the ribs of the portion of the bar to be upset without confining the portion ofthe bar at the other side of the slit, and upsetting members of 5 a cross section similar to that of the entire bar entering the opposite ends of said spaces:

NATHAN H. DAVIS. Vitnesses:

ARNOLD KATZ, D. STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

